Leaning McGregor (almost a toss up though) Woodley Joanna Champion Weidman/Romero is a toss up. Think Romero is flying a bit under the radar on this one. Cerrone, but nothing surprises me in a Cerrone fight. He's just as likely to lose as he is to mop the floor with him. Tate Edgar Khabib Boetsch Muhammad Miller Carmouche
Romero is a scary individual, I just think a lot of people don't like him because he's a weird dude. He always has something weird happen like with the Kennedy fight, "tainted" supplement thing, his thinly-masked anti-gay rant after the Machida fight... I don't know. He can beat anyone in the division, but I think Weidman is his toughest fight actually. Also not surprised we all are disagreeing on our picks here. Just about every fight is a toss up.
Yeah, it's always something with him, but he's got some serious power (4 or 5 KO/TKO's in the UFC I think?) and I'd have to imagine Chris won't try to wrestle him. It'll be a fun one. Really the only pick I'm set in stone with is Joanna. Eddie can beat Conor, and pretty handily I think, but his style is so tailor made for McGregor to pop him. I'd bet the farm on Khabib if he fought Conor, but Eddie is another story. I think Woodley is so pissed at Wonderboy he could smoke him, but Wonderboy has that funky karate style. The whole card is stacked, which is awesome for the die-hards.
God this presser is awesome. I really wish Eddie would script his trash talking just a little though. Man the things he is saying are cringe-worthy. "His wife is pregnant with two kids, but they're not twins. You do the math".... What?
Eddie is rattled. I feel like he's going to come out just like Jose just wanting to hurt Conor instead of fighting his fight.
I like Eddie and have followed him since way back in Bellator, and Conor isn't bluffing... He's very hittable. Otherwise I would pick Eddie for sure. Conor is going to zip that left hand right through there, I think. I think Eddie's best chance is if he fought the same way he did against Pettis, but I think he's so shaken up that he will avoid fighting that way to prove a point.
Which is what's so frustrating. I think everyone knows Conor's weaknesses at this point, but no one wants to exploit them. Diaz in that second fight, take him down man! I don't know, I guess for me proving a point would be beating him, not getting into a boxing fight with him.
He definitely isn't as quotable or memorable anymore during the pre-fight hyping events. I think some of it has to do with having his confidence knocked down a little by the Diaz loss. It's harder for him to put on that act of invincibility when he's only on a one-fight winning streak. Also, I think he's just running out of material lol I mean, with most of the big names in the sport, they aren't in the spotlight 100% of the time. They come and go, so when they reappear, the fans are wanting them again. Conor just never leaves (not his fault). He's all people and the UFC talk about, so of course his whole gimmick is going to get a little dry after a while.
So Thiago Alves missed weight by 6 pounds, so he gets docked 20%. Apparently Jim Miller hasn't weighed in yet, but he has to weigh in within 5 pounds of Alves for the fight to still happen... So basically, he has to purposely miss weight by hydrating early. Also, rumor at the weigh ins now is that Gastellum missed weight as well (Cowboy already weighed in successfully and is pissed). Edit: All title holders and challengers are good to go, though. So there's that!
Shit you're right. Why leave your nutritionist the first time you try to fight at a lower weight class? haha I always thought Thiago was a big welterweight though so I can't believe he even tried going down. He is in the same boat as Johny Hendricks where he holds a lot of weight but has a short frame. Just an unfortunate body type for weight classes. Edit: Miller weighed in a 157, so the fight is on.
Looks like the fight is not happening... Poor Cowboy. Damn it. Also looks as though if Kelvin would have weighed in first, they could have done something similar to Alves/Miller. Cowboy screwed himself by weighing in first successfully. I'm listening to MMAFighting's stream, and it seems like there is major confusion around the rules about this "within 5 pounds" rule. Like...they can't get clarification if Kelvin could have weighed in still or if the Miller/Alves standard was a mistake.
Connor looks great at this weight. Honestly think this will be the best we ever see him look. Too big for 45 too little for 70. Also he is jus started to work on his cardio prior to the second Diaz fight. I just don't think Eddie has it in him to hold Connor down for 5 rounds